THE strains of "There is an Isle" were not audible around the confines of Dooradoyle, but Shannon's victory anthem was sung in many a hostelry in Limerick on Saturday night. The first rendition came in Musgrave Park in the afternoon after the club had defeated UCC in the Munster Senior Cup and then learned that Young Munster had done the club what Shannon captain Pat Murray described as "a big favour" by beating Garryowen, thus enabling Shannon to retain the All-Ireland League title.

It was, as Shannon coach Niall O'Donovan, said "an unusual ending to the league, but no less welcome for that." The destination of the trophy was out of Shannon's hands, but still in Shannon's possession and it will not be moving across the city of Limerick.

"We wanted to concentrate on the cup match, but inevitably thoughts were straying back to Dooradoyle," said O'Donovan. "Some of our supporters were watching the match on television in the Dolphin pavilion at Musgrave Park with one eye on what was happening in the cup tie. Then during the second half we heard this huge cheer from the pavilion and were told that Young Munster had scored a try. It was followed soon afterwards by another cheer to mark another Young Munster try and I think the celebrations started. After our match we left immediately for Limerick, you could say it was a pleasant journey."

Had he expected Young Munster to win? "I certainly felt Young Munster were capable of winning and was not surprised by the fact they won. I was surprised at the margin. That is a good Young Munster side and you need never have any worries that Young Munster will be competitive. "Garryowen have had a few very close calls in the last few matches but won without playing well. We were well aware of that. Young Munster did not go out to beat Garryowen to do us a favour, they went out to beat Garryowen for their own pride.

"People may say we are lucky to win the league, but we had to win the matches and get the points to win it. We hit a bit of a valley period before the break but set ourselves the target of winning all the matches after the league resumed. We felt if we did that we could retain the title and we have."

It was back to Cork yesterday for Shannon, who played in the semi-final of the Munster Junior Cup. O'Donovan had to be very temperate in his celebrations. He sat on the bench as a replacement for the junior cup team. "You never know, I might be called on to play, so I must be ready just in case."

The League trophy was presented to Murray at Thomond Park last night.